cottage and vine

Too Cool & Dinner With Emily

2012-01-27T07:30:00.001-05:00

Thank you for the comments about the bedroom curtains! The final score is...

gray 23 - peacock 17

The other day as I was tallying up the score, this comment came in that really got my attention.

I completely agree! To backtrack, I once posted a question about the mirrors in the room. I think some gold rub & buff will warm them up and completely change the look of the room. Once I make that change I am hoping it will be clear to me which way to go with the curtain color, but I am leaning toward gray. Thanks again for your moral support! I love having a panel of experts that I can go to for design advice and I value each and every opinion.

This week I had the opportunity to have dinner with Emily. Even though we have followed each other's blogs and kept in touch by email, we had never met in person. We had a great time talking about the things we enjoy and getting to know each other better. Emily has been so supportive of me and I was thrilled when she emailed to see if we could meet for dinner. I will also add that she is sweeter, funnier, and if you can believe it, prettier in person. Thanks for a great night Emily!

Have a great weekend!

A Client E-Design

2012-01-26T06:52:00.000-05:00

Last week I finished up an e-design and thought you might enjoy the thoughts behind the project. The room is spacious and has abundant natural light. My client likes the look of bamboo shades and panels with horizontal stripes. She also wasn't completely satisfied with the rug in the room. I sent her a few rug choices and she quickly agreed on one which arrived last week. Gotta love a client who jumps right on it.

Once the rug was chosen, the rest of the room fell into place. Here is the plan I came up with for the room...

Also, two adjacent walls needed furniture and art. By using a blue table that my client already had, I added in some additional seating and art to "fill" the wall.

And finally the other wall...

Hopefully I will have pictures to share soon.

Need help finding sources to spruce up your space? Learn more about e-design here.

My Favorite Room: Flutter Flutter

2012-01-25T06:19:00.000-05:00

Perhaps some of you have wondered what ever happened to the "My Favorite Room" series. Well, we have a special guest today and she comes all the way from Canada. Rosa from the blog Flutter Flutter is such a sweet blogger, as well as talented photographer & graphic artist. You are in for a treat because she is going to share a special spot in her home. Welcome Rosa!

Hi there! I'm Rosa, from FlutterFlutter. I'm thrilled that Rene asked me to share my favorite room with you! I'm kind of cheating though, because my favorite room is actually three rooms in one! Our kitchen, eating area, and family room are all open to each other in one long space, so I'm going to show you bits of all of them! ;)

Slipcovers are my friend. Rene, this couch will probably look familiar to you! I'm also currently loving faux fur, wool, and anything nature inspired.

I recently DIY'd this coffee table for the family room... and it's a huge hit with the kids because it doubles as a moving stage!

These little chairs help to delineate the eating area from the family room, and make great extra seating at the kids table when friends are over. My grandad made them when I was little and so it makes me happy to see them still being loved.

Thank you so much for having me over today Rene! I hope you all liked the tour!

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Yes, I do recognize the sofa - slipcovers are a mom's best friend. And, I have always loved those chairs marching in a row behind it - such a nice reminder of your grandfather. All the nods to family make your home so welcome and inviting. Thanks so much for sharing your favorite room with us today!

Trying on Curtains

2012-01-24T06:40:00.000-05:00

Before you head out the door, do you ever stand in front of the mirror with two different shoes on wondering which looks best? For about the last week, I have been looking at this image trying to decide which way to go with curtains for the master bedroom. I shared my thoughts with you here and they really haven't changed that much. The only difference is that I really feel the need for curtains.

So here I am with a peacock curtain on one foot and gray on the other. If you recall, I want this to be a tranquil, calm space. I am afraid the peacock curtains, fun as they sound, might be a bit much for me. However, I could be convinced.

This image is pushing me toward charcoal. Good grief, could this be any prettier?

If I go with the gray curtains, I could paint the background of the built-ins a shade of blue.

I'm thinking about a pretty bolster pillow for the window seat.

And a tiny pop of color with one yellow lamp for the dresser.

Now it is your turn. Gray or peacock?

"Get it Together" Highlights

2012-01-23T06:33:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the "Get it Together" series last week!!! My guess is that you have heard enough about organizing from me (for now). However, I had to share highlights from the party.

As always, ya'll wowed me!

My Many Moments

Love of Family & Home

If you missed the party, you can check it out here.

Great Organizing Sites/Blogs

2012-01-20T07:28:00.002-05:00

Yesterday when I asked you about your favorite storage items I received this great tip from Amanda Jane. I thought those of you with kiddos might appreciate this:

You can find them here.

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To wrap up a week in organizing I am sharing a handful of inspiring sites/blogs to get your purging/filing/sorting juices flowing. If you have more to add, please leave a comment. I need all the help I can get ;).

Simple Mom

Deliciously Organized

Simplified Bee

IHeart Organizing

And of course, where would we be without

Real Simple and Martha Stewart?

The "get it together" party is open until tonight. Link your organizing projects here.

Have a great weekend!

Storage Favorites

2012-01-19T07:38:00.000-05:00

This has been a crazy week! It all started with a 4 day swim meet last weekend. Then came mid-term exams and the fact that the kids are out of school two days(totally caught me off guard). My posts have been a little "off" and will hopefully return to normal next week.

In keeping with the organization/storage theme this week, I wanted to share my favorite storage items with you.

Love these boxes! We use them to hold ipod & camera cords, school & office supplies, etc. Ikea
Pharmacy bottles are great for holding bathroom necessities. Restoration Hardware
Vintage pyrex dishes. My go to for food storage. They stack and store easily. Microwave safe and are easy to clean. Etsy
Over the door storage bag. Great for all those little things that you use often. Easy to see through to find what you are looking for. Think nail polish, sunscreen, combs & brushes, toys, etc. K-Mart
One cannot have too many baskets. This style from Pottery Barn is my favorite!
Jewelry Tree from Urban Outfitters
Glass Storage jar. You know how I feel about these. World Market, but I found mine at Walmart for less.
Great for underwear & socks. Ikea
Striped Bins. The Container Store

What are your favorite storage items?

Pretty Storage

2012-01-17T08:05:00.000-05:00

I have had organizing on my mind lately. Especially when using special objects in unintended ways that add a special touch to the everyday routine. I'll show you what I mean.

I am a huge fan of glass canisters for storing flour, receipts, cupcake holders, ribbon, etc. The pretty blue willow cup for scooping takes this canister to the next level. Country Living

There is much to love about this image from Made By Girl. Jewelry and necessities are beautiful when displayed this way.

A silver tray used as a magnetic board is a brilliant way to bring a vintage touch into an office space or kitchen. DIY Studio

Colorful dishes holding jewelry - an oldie, but a goodie from Martha.

I love this medicine cabinet lined with paper and am pretty sure I would smile every time I open it. The dishes holding personal items are the finishing touch. BHG

Love these clever ways to hold ribbon and craft supplies. both images: Houzz

What special things do you do to make the everyday routine a little better? I would love to know.

By the way, the "get it together" party is still open if you want to join in.

A Closet Reveal & Get It Together Party!!!

2012-01-16T04:07:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody! I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to do something fun and relaxing. I cannot wait to see what projects you have been working on.

Last week, I shared a sneak peek of my little "walk-by" closet. Our house was built in the 30's and while it has lots of charm with moldings, hardwood floors, etc. the closet space is somewhat limited. To make the most use of space in my closet, we took down the single door and opened up the front of the closet to accommodate double doors. This gave me full access to each side of the closet and also gave me a space to hang canvas storage bags for shoes. The closet itself is 24"x50" and as you will see, I have maximized storage.

I really wanted my closet to make me smile when I open the doors, so I decided to add some decorative paper to the shelf area. Here is a shot of the closet before I added the paper.

I wasn't sure how to hang the paper, but knew that it would need to be something that could easily be removed one day. I decided on poster tape and was happy with the results.

Viola! I would love to replace the hangers with some of the ultra thin flocked hangers, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Some things that make this little closet work overtime are: the shoe bags, the plastic bin holding belts, gloves, hats, and etc.

You can't really see it in the big picture, but this drop down rod is wonderful because it gives me a second row for hanging skirts, jeans, & pants.

I found these pretty hooks at Anthro and use them to hang things I reach for often such as robes & scarves.

The big white storage boxes came from Walmart. You can find similar at Ikea. I love these boxes for holding off season shoes and purses.

Now for the party...

What to bring: a post involving organization. This could be a recent organizing project or organizing tips & tricks. Be sure to link back and also try to visit others who have joined the party. Thank you for coming!!!

A Closet Sneak Peek & Party Reminder

2012-01-13T16:21:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to pop in real quick to show you my pretty plastic hangers. Ha! Seriously, I wanted to let you know that the paper is up in the closet and I love it! Details will be shared bright and early Monday at the monthly party. I hope you can stop by and share your most recent organization projects and tips.

By the way, thank you for the sweet comments yesterday! They made my day! Have a great weekend!

Thoughts for the Day - 21 Years

2012-01-12T09:32:00.003-05:00

21 years ago today my husband and I were married. This means two things. Yes, I am that old. And, 21 years means a lot of ups and downs. I have learned a lot in those years and have much more to learn. Some of you aren't married, some are newly weds, and others have been married longer than I have and could probably write a book.

I am not an expert by any stretch and could have done a lot of things better, but here is what I have learned...

to listen
when you are 34, 44, etc. you aren't the same person you were when you were 24. stay connected
to be honest
if mom & dad are happy, the kids will be too. make your marriage your priority
to forgive
to laugh

I could probably go on and on about this subject, but I will leave you with this thought...

images: {1}{2}

Promoting With Living Social!

2012-01-11T07:17:00.001-05:00

One day last fall I met with a representative from Living Social to discuss a promotion tying in with their "At Home" series. I have been looking forward to this day because it is the official kickoff. You can learn more about it here, but in case you want to hear it from me, the deal includes two hours of design services for the price of one. In other words, two hours for $75 and an additional 20% off future consultations. During that time, we can discuss fun stuff like furniture placement, color, fabric, accessories, organization, etc. Only six days remaining!

Do you use Living Social? If not, you might want to in order to stay informed about all sorts of great deals in your area.

Speaking of Hip Yet Classic...

2012-01-10T07:09:00.000-05:00

The other night I was at a party and one of my hippest and most classic friends pulled out her telephone. Isn't it a riot? I think everyone with an I-phone or blackberry needs one and you can get them right here.

In other news, my paper arrived yesterday so you know what I will be doing today. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for some exciting news for local readers.

DIY Stair Runner Anyone?

2012-01-09T07:27:00.000-05:00

Ivy & Piper

Tracery Interiors

Bird & Birch

Lucyina Moodie

S.R. Gambrel

Lately I have had stair runners on the brain. Over the holidays I posted a question on facebook asking if any of you have ever installed a stair runner as a diy project. It seems like an easy project, but I haven't quite been able to pull the trigger. I know others have gone before me.

There was Rhoda....

...and Casey.

And then I found this tutorial.

So tell me, have you installed a stair runner or do you know of any more good tutorials? I am gathering all the information I can before before diving in. Or maybe I should just dive in ;)

Wooster & Prince, "hip yet classic"

2012-01-06T10:15:00.003-05:00

Thank you for the feedback on wallpaper in closets! I think we all agree that a closet is the perfect place to have a little fun with decor. After much contemplation, I finally reached a decision and placed my order yesterday for paper.

There are so many great options at Paper Mojo, but I finally decided on this one. I have seen wrapping paper used before on walls so I feel good about this. The bonus is that it is a closet and doesn't have to be perfect. I cannot wait until it arrives!

Also, I have some very exciting news for my local readers coming next week so stay tuned.

Have a great weekend lovelies!

Paperwhites

2012-01-05T06:47:00.000-05:00

It never fails...

As soon as the greenery comes down and all of the Christmas stuff goes back to the attic, the paperwhites go from this...

to this. I normally stagger my plantings beginning in the fall so that I have a constant supply of bloomers, but this year I was a bit off schedule.

That is OK though because now that the house feels sparse from all of the extras being put away, these pretty flowers fill the space. They remind me of the new year and the promise of a fresh start.

Add Height to a Room With Bookcases

2012-01-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

Whew! Today is the first day the kids are back in school. Here I sit still in my pj's wondering where to go from here. I will miss those little buzzards, but I am so far behind in my work. We spent a good chunk of the day in the doctor's office yesterday. Our son had 28 stitches removed and had the hard cast put on. Now if 6 weeks will go by quickly for him. He trotted off to the bus this morning with his back pack on one shoulder assuring me that he will be fine. That's my boy. He also picked green for his cast. That's also my boy.

Back to design. I am working on a couple of client projects that have large empty wall spaces. This is always a great place for shelves if you don't already have them in the room. There are so many ways you can go with this.

I love, love, love this idea of stacking Ikea shelves (4 total) to achieve this look.

Another Ikea hack is to trim out a bookcase and use strategic lighting to give it a more custom look.

Five narrow bookcases side by side with task lighting do the trick.

This works for me on so many levels. With photographs and art work there you almost don't see the stacks of magazines.

These are actually built-ins, but I love the idea of wrapping a corner using two bookcases butted up together.

This might be a better example.

If white bookcases aren't your thing, I always, always love seeing a secretary or hutch filled with books and interesting items to add height to a room.

Matchbook Mag

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Mag 2005

Southern Living

I'm off to the races. Have a great day!

Wallpaper in Closets

2012-01-02T09:11:00.000-05:00

I have closets on the brain. Over the weekend I spent a few hours purging and re-arranging my closet. I can honestly say that I love opening my closet doors now. Hopefully in the new year I will do more simple things that make a big difference in my every day life. My clothes are the same, but the presentation is sooo much better. I'm a sucker for good packaging. Pictures to come...

Until then let us look at these wallpapered closets. Wall paper works especially well in a walk-in closet. Mine is actually a walk-by ;) closet, but I'm thinking about adding some paper to the back. I have fallen in love with a couple from Graham & Brown which happens to be on Joss & Main as we speak. Mr. isn't crazy about it, but it is my closet after all.

via

Erinn Valencich via

Armonia Decors via

via

Melanie Fascitelli, Lonny Mag via

Adler Doovan via

Made By Girl via

So tell me, have you been purging too? I'll bet you are way ahead of me. If you have some before & after organizing projects or organizing tips in general, I would love for you to join me January 16.

New Year

2011-12-31T09:24:00.001-05:00

Today is the last day of 2011 and I cannot tell you how excited I am for the new year. Do you have big plans tonight? Whether you are partying it up on the dance floor or watching the ball drop in your pj's, I wish you the happiest of New Years! Thank you for reading my blog, commenting, sharing projects & tours. Thank you also for sponsoring, shopping in my etsy store, and calling on me to help with your homes. I cannot thank you enough.

As promised, I put together my top ten favorite posts from other bloggers. There are many, many more, but these are the ones I read and re-read. You know - borderline stalking ;).
Enjoy!

Before & After Bathroom via Pink Wallpaper

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Caroline and her husband recently bought a new house in Nashville and in this guest post we get to see how it is coming together. I love her style!

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I adore every post from Trina at Country Farm House, but this patio is my favorite.

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Being the mother of two boys, I cannot help but fall for a great "boy" room when I see one. Love the patterns and colors in this room from Grace Happens.

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There are so many before & after furniture posts out there, but the hardware and color Fran of Green Street used here is perfection. The styling is the icing on the cake.

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This is by far my favorite apartment, ever, via Haute Indoor Decor.

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You may remember when Rachel was my guest and shared her master bedroom. In that post you could see a teeny tiny shot of the bathroom. Well, here is the before & after - a must see.

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We finally got to see Steve's gorgeous dining room.

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Love, love, love this kitchen before & after via nest egg.

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And last, but not least, this beautiful family room before & after from BDG Style.

image: a field journal

A Year in Projects - Re-cap

2011-12-28T18:26:00.004-05:00

And just like that, another year has flown by. Sometimes it is easy to feel like I get nothing accomplished. So, to make myself feel better I was going through some old posts the other day and put together a year's worth of project highlights.

For anyone new to the blog or for anyone who would like to walk down memory lane with me, here goes. I would almost like to forget one or two of these ;)

Greek Key Nightstands

The Tween Room

Before & After Dining Room

The Pleather Cube
Tutorial still to come, pinky swear.

How To Re-upholster a Chair...

Fabric Covered Roller Shades

My First Slip Cover

DIY Dyed Curtains

A Graphic Punch

Before & After Luggage Rack

I have so many ideas and projects in mind for the new year. Thank you for your constant inspiration and support! And just to keep things fair and balanced, I will posting my ten favorite posts from other blogs in the next day or so. So, be sure to check back....

Sharing with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

Get Your 2012 Calendars

2011-12-27T14:58:00.000-05:00

The official count down is on. Can you believe that 2012 is almost here? With the new year comes a new opportunity - a clean slate so to speak. I don't know about you, but I have been purging and gearing up for the most organized new year ever. Closets, drawers, unused decor - bu-bye. Also, to get organized, I have downloaded my new 2012 calendar. Last year, I so enjoyed my free 2011 calendar from Red Stamp. Did you download one? I'm really loving the new ones for 2012 found here.

There are so many pretty calendars available this year. The prettier the better for keeping us on task.

I adore these two (above) watercolor calendars by Oh My Deer.

I love the vintage feel of this wall calendar printed on a linen cotton fabric by Bookhou.

Peacocks always lend a welcome pop of color. Love this one by Smock.

I fell in love with these wonderful calendars by Simplesong.

And, last but not least, this mix of geometric and botanical patterns is perfect by Suzy Jack.

Have you picked out a new calendar?

Christmas at Mom's

2011-12-26T08:46:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that Santa brought you something extra special. We have been relaxing and enjoying some serious "down time". We always enjoy spending Christmas Eve with my family and Mom has the touch when it comes to decorating. I thought you might enjoy seeing pictures of her Christmas decorations (if you aren't tired of looking at Christmas decorations yet).

This is a boxwood wreath, made by Mom, hanging on the inside of the front door. She stuffed the top with feathers and in the bottom rests a peacock. I adore this wreath!

In years past, Mom is known to make a centerpiece that is so tall that we cannot even see over. This year, she went with a low arrangement of boxwood, golden pears, and white nandina berries. I think this is my favorite arrangement she has ever made.

This is a table in the breakfast room. Mom stuffed an old sugar cane mold with fresh fruit & greenery. I need to remember this for next year.

Mom picked up these trees at a local florist and rested them on a bed of fresh cypress. She added the gold beads, lights, and pine cones and it is simply beautiful.

Mom has quite the collection of carolers. This year she had them on display in the den which is a dark, cozy room with lots of built-ins and paneling. I am not usually a fan of dark rooms like this, but somehow this room in one of my favorites.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into Mom's style.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T12:42:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a safe and relaxing Christmas...

I am so glad to have gotten to know you all through Cottage & Vine. Just knowing that you take the time to make this one of your stops means so much. My posts will be less until after the new year while I make the most of this time with family.

Merry Christmas!

XO,

Christmas Party Highlights

2011-12-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody! Thanks for all of your sweet comments about Parker! He is doing well and continues to feel better each day.

Also, thank you to everyone who joined the Christmas party! I was blown away by all of your links! Below is a re-cap...prepare for a very long post as there were so many great photos. And, as always, I try to feature blogs that haven't been spotlighted before.

This series has been so much fun for me and I would like to continue it into the new year. January seems to be the month when we are all trying to purge & get organized again. How about we share organization posts? Our pantry really needs help as does most every closet. Hopefully this will motivate me to get on that right away. If you have any organization tips or before & after projects you would like to share, please join the party January 16. Now go enjoy your families ;)

Hi There

2011-12-21T07:57:00.000-05:00

I'm just popping in to check in. Some of you are aware of recent events in our family, but I just wanted to give a little more detail so that no one worries.

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Sunday afternoon, my husband and I received a phone call from a stranger who happened to be going for a walk where our youngest son was riding his longboard with a friend. She told us that he had broken his arm. While the break could have been much worse, it was one that required surgery as both the radius and ulna were broken and the skin was punctured. This is gross, but the bones had come out and gone back in which means the wound was dirty requiring an additional procedure in surgery to clean out the area. This also required a 24 hour IV with antibiotics which meant two nights in the hospital. Surgery began around 10:00 Sunday night and ended around 1:00 am Monday. He was then transported to a hospital that has a pediatric unit for his stay.

Until yesterday we weren't sure whether Parker would have full feeling and use of his fingers so yesterday when those fingers all wiggled we were very happy. We came home yesterday and have settled in to our new routine of showering, eating, etc. He is right handed and of course the injury was on his right arm, but he is such a trooper that he never complains. As a matter of fact if I say something like, "I'm cold", he tells me to quit whining with a big smile on his face.

So here we are, ready for Christmas only things are a little different now. I am thankful for my friends and family, the kindness of strangers, and that this is no worse than it is.

The Christmas linky party will remain open until Friday and favorites will be posted Saturday. Enjoy your week.

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